Tongue Weight

S

ShellBack

New member
Joined
Aug 29, 2011
Messages
177
Reaction score
0
C Dory Year
2007
C Dory Model
22 Cruiser
Vessel Name
Thalassa
Just wondering if any of you have a ballpark idea of the tongue weight. I have a 2007 22ft with twin 50's, medium loaded with gear on a twin axle Road Runner trailer. I know there is many variables and for now I am just to lazy to set up the rig to figure it out in the rain
Thanks
Terry
 
I think it can be highly variable, just because there are so many different trailer brands, axles and bunks could be set up slightly differently, etc.

My 22 on the tandem trailer is around 4600# all up. I have around 350# of tongue weight, so around 7.5%. It tows just great that way. But I wouldn't be surprised if some folks have as much as 10% or less than 7%.
 
Way too many variables. Do the bathroom scales/fulcrum method. There are also tongue weight scales.

7.5 to 10% is good for a C Dory.
 
There are a LOT of variables, but I would almost fall over dead if you had over 500 pounds there. It things are rigged and loaded like they should be, you have around 300-400 pounds of TW. Just curious, why are you concerned about it?
 
Not so much worried about the truck as it is a 2014 Sierra but I have a issue getting it in and out of its winter spot beside the drive way at the side of the house and last fall a buddy dealing with horse trailers lent me a hand dolly and it worked great wheeling it into its home. I found the same kind of unit for 100 dollars rated for 600lbs but was not sure what the weight was so just asking.

Terry
 
The easiest way to check tongue weight is using the bathroom scale method as explained in another blog (great input, thanks to the contributor). If I remember right, mine was 350 lbs. That works for me as I have had zero problems in towing. If you did have 600 lbs on the hitch, I would do some adjusting. I don't see any way that could happen without the TV "squat" being obvious.
 
Terry,

My set up is close to yours, probably. A 22 Cruiser, twin 40 Yamaha's loaded fairly heavy for cruising. the trailer is a Pacific tandem, galvanized.

The trailer scaled at 1160# empty.
The boat and trailer, with fuel and water at 4760#
Puts boat at 3800 (from memory) Can't find the number right now. :oops:
Tongue weight is 425#, measured. (One of the local Brats actually had a tongue wt scale.)

I believe the recommended wt is 5% to 10%. I have always been more comfortable at the 7 or 8 to 10% end of the scale. The trailer is less likely to wag the tow rig.

Your 600# dolly should handle the weight OK, but if you are running that on a soft substrate, (Lawn, or gravel) it may dig in some or a bunch..)

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

HH_Cal_09_07_Jul.thumb.jpg
 
Your hitch should be fine and even have reserve. I tow mine all the time with a hitch rated for 500 pounds of TW on my E450 motorhome. I have twins like yours and load it to the gills for cruising. I have never had an issue with TW. I forget to add the first time; I tow my CD 22 with a 99 1/2 ton suburban very frequently. It's just fine.
 
My CD-22 with the Merc 115 on the back with full gas tanks, water tank 2/3 full, and 80 lb cooler in the cockpit, with it's trailer, weighs 5,065 lbs and it's tongue weight is 405 lbs. So looking at the other numbers above, sounds like a tongue weight of around 400 lbs +/- 50 lbs, is pretty standard. Colby
 
Our 22 cruiser weighs in at a little under 5100 loaded and full of fuel and water. tongue weight comes in just over 5% when loaded the same. 50 gallons of fuel at the rear of boat probably makes the tongue a little lighter than if it were empty.
Our hitch receiver is rated at 500 pounds. One thing you need to take in to account is that when on a very rough road the bouncing up and down can create more than 500# of tongue weight from the force of bouncing. The reason I say this is that after our last trip to Sekiu last summer I noticed the hitch receiver was bent down slightly. I try to take it as easy as I can on that road, but it is rough. This was a near new receiver that should not have been fatigued. I plan to purchase a heavier rated one before we take it out in the spring.

Doug
 
ShellBack":192ypujh said:
Not so much worried about the truck as it is a 2014 Sierra but I have a issue getting it in and out of its winter spot beside the drive way at the side of the house and last fall a buddy dealing with horse trailers lent me a hand dolly and it worked great wheeling it into its home. I found the same kind of unit for 100 dollars rated for 600lbs but was not sure what the weight was so just asking.

Terry
Click to expand...

I suspect that dolly will be fine if the ground is smooth. I used to move trailers on the dolly in younger years all over the yard with a dolly when the sales manager decided for a "new" look and the service department was slow. I don't think the thing was rated for 500 pounds of TW and I used to move 30 foot TT all the time on level ground with a bit of help. I bet some of them had 1,000 pounds of TW and other than some sweat, swearing, and soreness, the dolly was fine. Sometimes I wasn't.....but that is outside the scope of this discussion. 100 bucks seems cheap - hopefully it has real tires as that really helps.
 
Check Harbor Freight.

Bill Kelleher
 
Doug, are you sure about your tongue weight? Especially if you've already had your receiver bend. Doing the math, 5% of 5000 would be 250. That seems kind of light on the tongue. And it looks like most numbers folks are given come in above 300 lbs, maybe closer to 350 and above. Colby
 
drbridge":26y15197 said:
Our 22 cruiser weighs in at a little under 5100 loaded and full of fuel and water. tongue weight comes in just over 5% when loaded the same. 50 gallons of fuel at the rear of boat probably makes the tongue a little lighter than if it were empty.
Our hitch receiver is rated at 500 pounds. One thing you need to take in to account is that when on a very rough road the bouncing up and down can create more than 500# of tongue weight from the force of bouncing. The reason I say this is that after our last trip to Sekiu last summer I noticed the hitch receiver was bent down slightly. I try to take it as easy as I can on that road, but it is rough. This was a near new receiver that should not have been fatigued. I plan to purchase a heavier rated one before we take it out in the spring.

Doug
Click to expand...

If you are running on the rough stuff, then you need a bow strap. The bow of the boat can and will lift off the trailer and slam down if you don't, making a dynamic condition that is far greater than what the hitch will ever be rated for. Normally you just break the trailer......ask how I know.......
 
Thanks for all the replies and that is why we love the Brats. It is pouring with rain and I think when the pineapple expresse is done I will do the fulcram test just for my own info. A 3 day long weekend for us in British Columbia so going to find some time to sit on our girl and wait for spring.
Cheers
Terry
 
Doug, are you sure about your tongue weight? Especially if you've already had your receiver bend. Doing the math, 5% of 5000 would be 250. That seems kind of light on the tongue. And it looks like most numbers folks are given come in above 300 lbs, maybe closer to 350 and above. Colby


Yes, I weighed it on the Washington State Patrol scale (accurate to within 20 pounds) it weighed in at 260. I have been contemplating trying to move the boat forward on the trailer ever since. It would be a bit of a hassle to get it just a few inches further forward and I am not sure how much difference that would make. I have a Pacific Tandem trailer and I think that a lot of C-Dorys use these trailers.[/quote]
 
If you are running on the rough stuff, then you need a bow strap. The bow of the boat can and will lift off the trailer and slam down if you don't, making a dynamic condition that is far greater than what the hitch will ever be rated for. Normally you just break the trailer......ask how I know.......

OK, This makes since. I don't have a bow strap and there were some pretty abrupt transitions on some road work that was going on. It just about launched me out of my seat going only 40mph. I am definitely going to get the bow strap on before I go out again. Thanks for the tip! I think I will also try to get the boat a few inches farther up on the trailer.

Doug
 
Back
Top